The Gentle Meek, Not The Gentle Weak by Kim Reisman

Scripture Focus:

O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more.

Psalm 10:17-18 (NRSV)

Yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look diligently for their place, they will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

Psalm 37:10-11 (NRSV)

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Jesus (Matthew 5:5, NRSV)

The fruit of the Spirit we’ve been studying during this year have a wonderful parallel in Jesus’ Beatitudes found in Matthew 5. The third of these, “Blessed are the meek,” is Jesus’ affirmation of people who have the fruit of gentleness growing in their lives. The Greek word translated gentleness in Paul’s list of fruit of the Spirit is prautes. Of all the words in Paul’s list, this is the most difficult to translate. Some have suggested that the Greek adjective praus can help us understand. This word is used to describe an animal who has been tamed and brought under control. For the Christian, it means submission to the will of God.

“Blessed are the meek,” is talking about the kind of person who is faithful and submissive to God even in the midst of trial, which means the meekness, or gentleness, that’s blessed by Jesus isn’t weakness; it’s strength. Meek people know their strength but submit that strength to Christ in a ministry of love and caring for others. Martin Luther described this kind of person as “the most free lord of all.”

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul talks about a “worker approved by God,” one who has no need to be ashamed.

A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 (NLT)

This description illuminates specific aspects of meekness. One, respect for others: “must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone.” The gentle meek don’t have to prove themselves. They don’t build themselves up by tearing others down.

Two, purposeful but person-centered: “be patient with difficult people.” The gentle meek have a purpose, a life-agenda that’s clear, but they value persons more than process or prowess. They’re willing to move more slowly if necessary to express value for others.

Three, certain and confident but not arrogant or proud: “Gently instruct those who oppose the truth.” The gentle meek know who they are and are strong in their convictions, but they don’t used their strength to intimidate others.

Years ago, the actor Peter Ustinov was reflecting on the images that actors have to live with and made this profound observation: “It’s a sad state when the man looking at you in the mirror is more important than the man looking into the mirror.” The meek aren’t caught in that bind. Because they don’t pretend, they don’t have to prove anything. They don’t have to worry about their image.

The meek also know their need for God, and they never forget their story. I’m reminded of Eleanor Boyer. Back in the late 1990’s Eleanor won the New Jersey state lottery. Her story was reported by USA TODAY because she secretly and suddenly gave all the money away. Explaining her generosity, she simply said, “I have my pension and Social Security. I have everything I need. Why let the money sit in the bank till I die?” After her big win she waited only three weeks before donating more than $5.9 million to her parish, The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Somerville, New Jersey. Keeping her generosity mainly local, she also gave to various charitable organizations, needy persons in her neighborhood, and three nephews who were her only close relatives. Even with the huge gift to her church, the interest on Eleanor’s winnings – $10,000 a month – was coming in faster than she could give it away. She was deluged with letters and requests and each one got personal attention and an immediate decision.

While she always expressed a desire to remain private, there was a great deal of publicity associated with Eleanor’s generosity. Lottery officials and experts across the nation at that time knew of no one who gave away such a great amount, so quickly and so fully. Despite all the publicity, however, Eleanor Boyer’s life changed little. She remained in Somerville in the same gray Cape Cod-style house where she was born. And the church remained her focus as it had all her life. She sang in the choir, taught religion classes, and counted the Sunday offering. She continued to attend Mass daily, driving her 1969 Chevy Malibu. She continued to rise early for prayer and drop her weekly envelope in the collection plate.

Eleanor Boyer knew her need for God. She knew her story and never forgot it. To be meek, we must remember our story and be ever aware of our need for God. No matter what happens to us, how successful we are, to what level accomplishment we may rise, we remember the soil from which we have grown, those who have made us who we are.

As you pray and fast, reflect on how well you know who you are. How secure are you in that? To what degree do you know your need for God? Do you remember your story? Do you stay in touch with where you came from?

I will be praying that you would claim the gentle strength of meekness – cultivating a respect for others and an awareness of your purpose. That you would experience a certainty and confidence that comes when we know we have nothing to prove because we recognize our need for God and never forget the soil from which we have grown.